Grip device for the propulsion of cars by cable



3 SheetsSl1eet 1.

(No Model.)

Z.P.BOYE R. GRIP DEVICE FOR THE PROPULSION OF GARS BY CABLE.

Patented May 2'7, 1884.

WITNESSES (No Model.) I 3 Sh-eetS-Sheet 2.

Z. P. BOYER.

'GRIP DEVICE FOR THE PROPULSION OP UAES BY GABLE.

No. 299,197. Patented May 27, 1884.

WITNESSES N4 n'zns, Photo-Lithograph". Washingkm, n a

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. Z.P.BOYER.

GRIP DEVICE FOR THE PROPULSION 0F CARS BY CABLE.

Patented May 27, 1884.

WITNESSES I WEN f %ae,m M W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ZACCUR PRALL BOYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRIP DEVICE FOR THE PROPULSION OF CARS BY CABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,197, dated May 27, 188%;

Application filed April 23, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ZAOOUR PRALL BoYER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Grip Device for the Propulsion of Cars by Gable, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved grip device for the propulsion of cars by cable, and to an improved manner of mounting the same upon the car; and the objects of my invention are, first, to cheapen the cost of construction; second, to dispense with a specially-provided grip car or dummy; third, to avoid the upand-down motion conveyed to the cable by reason of the grip attachment being made to the main body of the car; and, fourth, to avoid the oscillating motion given to the car resulting from the grip being attached to and underneath the center of the car. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grip device to be used in the propulsion of cars by cable. A A is a movable frame, with bars and platform to support the other portions of the grip. Bis a starting bar or lever fixed in a fulcrum near the lower end, and secured by a bolt, nut, screw, or other fastening in the jaws of the fulcrum. The starting bar or lever has at the lower end a wedge or V shaped slot, to adapt it to act upon the gripping-jaws. O is the fulcrum, supported from the frame by a bar of strength sufficient to sustain the working-strain of the lever. D is a C or crescent shaped arch or rack, as in the form shown, used for holding the starting-bar in position. E is a pawl or catch secured or fastened to the starting-bar, and adapted by engaging the ratchet on D to hold said lever in position. F is a bar or brace for the purpose of assisting and supporting the grip, and is attached to the lower side of the main frame or crossbar running downward at an angle to the point of contact with the support of the grip. This bar may, if desired, carry on either or both sides a pulley or pulleys or wheels arranged for the purpose of facilitating the propulsion of the car around curves. H is the main bar or shank of the grip running from the under side of the grip-frame downward, and at its lower part secured to and braced by the brace-bar F. At anintermediate point of the bar H is provided a forked part, H, in the legs of which are pivotally mounted the gripjaws. Springs between the upper 'ends of the grip-jaws and the legs of the fork tend to hold the said jaws normally open. At K, I have shown the lower end of the shank H, offset and inclosing a pulley, which rides on top of the rope, to limit the height to which it shall rise in the jaws of the grip. L L are the jaws of the grip, constructed as shown, and attached to the bar H, in manner and form as described. M is the rope or cable.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the grip in position, attached to an ordinary car at one end, and working independent of the car-body. In the platform at the end of the car is formed an opening in which, but not upon said platform, is mounted the grip. Two or more horizontal beams, M, mounted upon the axles, extend longitudinally under the platform at one or both ends of the car. In some cases these beams may be so mounted by securing them to the ordinary axle-boxes. Upon these beams, which serve as a sub-frame, are placed supports as at a. Over these supports are carried chains b, which are secured to frame A, the other ends of said chains being connected to a raising and lowering device,which is also mounted independent of the car-body. I have specifically shown as such device the following: 0 is a bar or lever attached to a roller, around which run the chains or ropes running over the pulleys upon the supports a, said ropes being attached to the main bed of the frame A, for the purpose of lowering or raising the grip without disconnecting it from any part of the bed or car.

- Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the top of the platform with the cross-bars, ropes, pulleys, and rollers in manner and form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, all resting on the beams running under the main body of the car, the beams be ing supported by the axles, as described.

Fig. 4 illustrates the jaws of the grip secured and supported in the fork of the bar H, showing the springs for opening the jaws of the grip in place, and also showing the lining in the jaws of the grip. These linings are made of copper, brass, iron, or any other suitable material.

Fig. 5 is a view in detail of one side of the ICO jaws of the grip, and shows also one side of the lining.

Fig. (5 is the V or wedge shaped end of the starting-bar B in contact with the wedge shaped part of the upper end of the jaws of the grip, as shown in the drawings and as de scribed in the former part of this specification.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grip for a cable road, the combination, with the grip-shank and the supporting- -frame, of the inclined brace-bar F, adapted to support the said shank when under the drawing-st aim of the cable.

2. The combination of the grip with the beams or sills resting on the axles of the car, and extending longitudinally under the platform at either or both ends of the car, as described.

3. The combination, with the car-p1atform having the opening, as described, of the beams orsills mounted 011 the car-axles, and extended beneath said opening, and the grip mounted in said opening, as described.

4. The combination, with the pivoted gripping-jaws, of the pivoted starting bar or lever, having the wedgiug jaws, and adapted to compress the gripping-jaws upon the cable, substantially as described.

5. In a car for cable railways, a grip therefor mounted in an opening of the platform at the end of the car upon a frame independent of the car-body, and unaffected by vertical oscillations of the same, as described.

6. The combination, with the sub-frame and the supports thereon, of the movable frame, the drum, its lever, and the raising and lowering chains, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the car and its grip mounted upon framing at the end thereof, as described, of the case inclosing the said framing, andthe operating mechanism, as set forth.

8. In a car for cable railways, the platform having the opening, the sub-frame mounted on the car-axles and independent of the car-body, and a movable frame suspended from supports on the sub-frame by adjustable connections, and the grip mounted upon the secondary frame, all combined and operating substantially as described.

ZAOOUR 1% LALL BOYEI.

Witnesses WM. J. Moonrn, Gno. M. Ronns. 

